Grief counselling and emotional support services have been made available to learners and staff at Westering High School following the death of a 17-year-old learner during rugby practice on Thursday.
The Gqeberha school’s acting principal, Hugo Mulder, shared a heartfelt tribute on social media, stating that Kungawo Booi “was so much more than just a rugby player.”
“He was a bright, spirited young man who brought energy, warmth and kindness wherever he went,” Mulder wrote. “He was a true part of our Westering family and his loss is felt deeply by everyone who knew him.”
The school has mobilised support services, with counselling available for any learner or staff member in need. Mulder encouraged the “Westering family to lean on one another in the days ahead” as they process the tragedy together.
He concluding his statement: “We grieve together as a community, and we will carry Kungawo’s memory with us always.”
Meanwhile, social media has been flooded with tributes from the broader school and rugby communities. A parent of another Westering High learner revealed that Kungawo had an identical twin brother.
“Please join us in praying for this dear family,” the parent wrote. “This tragic accident is a sobering reminder of how brief and unpredictable life can be.”
Club Rugby in the Eastern Cape posted their own tribute, stating that Kungawo’s “loss is profoundly felt throughout the entire Westering community.” They expressed hope that “his legacy continue to inspire all those whose lives he touched.”
According to police, SAPS Kabega Park officers responded to a complaint at the school in Bougainvillea Drive on Thursday afternoon. “On arrival they were informed that Kungawo Booi (17) was busy practising rugby when he was injured. He received medical attention on the scene but passed away,” Captain Sandra Janse Van Rensburg said in a statement.
SAPS Kabega Park detectives have opened an inquest investigation into the incident.
